9 Types of Dangerous Goods Shipping
There’s no getting around the fact that shipping containers must be filled and shipped with hazardous cargo inside. But it’s critical to ship hazardous goods safely to avoid disaster. The shipping of hazardous goods is an industry that’s highly specialized and regulated, requiring proper documentation and proper containers.
So what exactly are dangerous goods? These substances or items are those that pose a risk to health, safety, the environment, or property while in the process of shipping. They have to be handled with top-notch care from start to finish. Dangerous goods take many forms, from solids to liquids to gasses.
They may be corrosive in nature, or they could be common items that we use every day, such as perfume. All of these dangerous goods are transported in shipping containers for ease of transportation as well as safety. Because shipping containers can be stacked, bulk transportation is possible.
Top Hazardous Goods
There are nine classifications of dangerous goods, and those include:
1. Explosives
These are materials that can quickly conflagrate or detonate due to a chemical reaction. Examples include flares, fireworks, and gunpowder.
2. Gasses
These are substances that can be compressed, liquefied, refrigerated, or dissolved. Examples include oxygen, helium, and chlorine.
3. Flammable liquids
These are liquids with very low ignition temperatures, meaning that they ignite easily, and are extremely volatile and combustible. Examples include acetone, kerosene, and gas oil.
4. Flammable solids
In the same vein, flammable solids are solids that are easily combustible. Examples include sodium batteries, metal powders, and activated carbon.
5. Oxidizing substances
These include oxidizing agents and organic peroxides, which are highly reactive and combust easily. Examples include hydrogen peroxide and lead nitrate.
6. Toxic and infectious substances
Toxic substances can be deadly if swallowed or inhaled, or if received via skin contact, while infectious substances can result in disease. Common examples include dyes, medical waste, and biological cultures.
7. Radioactive materials
These substances would be extremely dangerous if they were to become unstable. Examples include yellowcake and medical isotopes.
8. Corrosives
Corrosive materials will disintegrate or degrade other materials on contact. These highly reactive corrosives produce a positive chemical effect, with examples including batteries, paints and chlorides.
9. Miscellaneous goods
All other goods are included in this category, such as dry ice, motor engines and marine pollutants.
Packaging Requirements For Hazardous Materials
There are some packaging requirements to keep in mind when shipping dangerous goods.
- UN number: This four-digit code is preceded by the letters UN.
- PSN: This stands for proper shipping name, and is used to describe the cargo.
- Packing group: There are three packing groups: I, II, and III, which help to determine the degree of packing necessary for a certain good.
Contact Transocean Equipment Management
We take safety very seriously here at Transocean, and are well aware of these nine dangerous substances. If you need safe, durable steel containers to transport your dangerous goods, call us today to learn about our options.
